The musculoskeletal system drugs market comprises companies that discover, develop, manufacture and distribute medications used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Musculoskeletal diseases include arthritis, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, rotator cuff tear, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, lupus erythematosus and others. Some of the major drugs in the market include Piroxicam Glaxo, Dolonex, Felden, and Piroxicam Pfizer. The market numbers within this briefing are restricted to pharmaceutical (drug) treatments and do not cover biologic treatments for these conditions which are included in a separate briefing.

The substantial reason for the growth of the musculoskeletal system drugs market from $130 billion in 2017 to $177 billion in 2021. This can be attributed to the expected increase in healthcare awareness, number of surgical operations and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis around the world. Also, increasing number of road accidents and workplace injuries are expected to contribute to market growth.

Three of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia and India) have high recent and forecast market growth rates for musculoskeletal drugs and so will move up the table of consumer countries for these drugs. Currently the largest markets for drugs that treat diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, carpal tunnel syndrome and muscular dystrophy are in countries such as the USA and Japan and China; the USA’s market is and will remain vastly bigger than any other, but the three BRIC markets are beginning to catch up with Japan and China. For example, while India’s market was only two-thirds of Japan’s in 2016, by 2020 its sales will be equal to 84% of the Japanese sales. Again, Again, Brazil’s market was only half as big as China’s in 2016 but will be worth nearly 60% of that market by 2020.